Mauckingbird Theatre Company, best known for its clever, poignant reflection on classic works through a gay lens, takes on a new kind of classic with a staged reading of the 1950s play Bad Seed by Maxwell Anderson. Directed by Mauckingbird Artistic Director Peter Reynolds, the reading includes performances by Barrymore Award winner Amanda Schoonover as 9-year-old Rhoda Penmark, the titular "bad seed," and Michelle Eugene as her suffering mother Christine Penmark. The Bad Seed runs for one weekend only, January 25-27, at the Off-Broad Street Theater. Philadelphia's own Martha Graham Cracker will serve as hostess for the reading, which benefits Mauckingbird, Philadelphia's award-winning professional gay-themed theatre company.

Based on a 1954 novel by William March, The Bad Seed ran on Broadway for 334 performances, earning Nancy Kelly a Tony Award for her role as Christine Penmark. The play was then adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film that has since become a cult classic. In addition to Amanda Schoonover and Michelle Eugene, Mauckingbird's production has attracted the participation of Barrymore Award winner Cheryl Williams in the role of Mrs. Daigle, the scenery-chewing drunken mother of Claude Daigle who meets his end at the hands of the bad seed; Chancellor Dean (Don Pedro in Mauckingbird's acclaimed production of Much Ado About Nothing), portrays the handsome father Kenneth Penmark; and Jared Michael Delaney, Associate Artistic Director of Inis Nua Theatre Company, is Leroy, the hired hand who senses Rhoda's treachery.

Reynolds affirms "Bad Seed is one of my favorite films, I am excited to explore the original play by Maxwell Anderson with such an ensemble of outstanding actors. It is my hope that Mauckingbird can continue to present staged readings of classic works that would be cost prohibitive to mount in a full production."

Bad Seed runs January 25-27, 2013, at the Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom St. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and are available by calling the Mauckingbird Theatre Company box office at (215) 923-8909 or by visiting www.mauckingbird.org. All proceeds benefit Mauckingbird Theatre as it begins its sixth season bringing gay-themed professional theatre to Philadelphia.

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